Park Avenue Penthouse - Living Room Photo by Kris Tamburello Photography
Inspiration for a transitional living room remodel in New York

The project site is a three story apartment building with a full basement, which had recently been subject to an apartment fire. Four separate residential units were contained in the structure, including one two bedroom unit and three single bedroom units. A laundry room/basement and a pair of lofts were also housed within the building. The result of the blaze and the subsequent water damage from attempts to extinguish it left the interior of the building primarily gutted. All interior finishes, fixtures, stairways, mechanical and electrical systems were destroyed beyond repair. The exterior of the building was charred in some places, and destroyed completely in others. The project location, the City of San Rafael, determined that due to the extent of the damage to the structure, the resulting project would be considered a “new building”. Our first task was to review the current building code and apply the current regulations to the existing structure (originally built in the early 1900’s) and bring it up to current code. We performed occupant load calculations, a code summary, square footage calculations and egress code analysis for each floor/use. This information was then compiled in order to determine how the project could legally be designed within the current code, all while minimizing modifications to the existing structure. Once all data had been analyzed, the new floor plans were organized and laid out in a manner which retained the heritage of the original building while remaining true to current code. The site was revised to allow for code compliant parking areas while retaining the family friendly outdoor spaces inherent in the original design. The foundation was reinforced, and the building structure as a whole was strengthened to cope with modern seismic loads. Spray foam insulation, low E glazing, skylights, ceiling fans, high efficiency HVAC, etc…were all added to make the building more efficient and environmentally friendly. The use of Class “A” materials, fire separations (both vertical and horizontal) and a commercial sprinkler system were employed in order to avoid any future fires. Reconstruction of the project was recently completed in the summer of 2014. Photos by B. James

Gaia luxury chandelier shown in Nickel with Swarovski Elements. In Greek mythology, the earth was created out of chaos. The Goddess overseeing all, was called Gaia, the Goddess of Earth. Designing is also an attempt to bring order into the chaos of lines, materials and possible combinations. The organically formed branches of Gaia, dance around the crystals, protecting them in a playful yet harmonious embrace. The sublime Swarovski crystals, no longer mere pieces of decoration but by now the very heart of the lighting sculpture, radiate a phenomenal array of reflection and colour.

It’s always a great surprise to find old tiled flooring hidden underneath carpet or linoleum which appears especially common with 19th century properties where it’s not unusual for the owners to uncover fantastically patterned, original Victorian tiled floors and, naturally, they want to restore them to their former glory. If you have a property of this type you might want to look under the carpets. The majority of the time, however, these tiles have been covered up for decades, allowing for thick layers of muck to build-up and are invariably damaged carpet grippers, surface glue and adhesive tape. This was pretty much the case with this customer who lives in the town of Warminster and was keen to have her own newly discovered Victorian hallway brought back to life, and called me down to see what could be done. Upon arrival at the property, I determined that the tiles would definitely require a very deep clean, including the remove of numerous glue stains, followed by the application of a new seal. Before I could begin the deep cleaning process, I needed to remove the carpet grippers and surface glue, attempting to remove as much as possible by hand using a scraper. For the particularly stubborn areas, I applied Tile Doctor Remove & Go, a powerful stripper specially designed to break down adhesives and solvents, and left it to dwell for 20 minutes to eat through the glue deposits. I then attached a black pad to a rotary machine and scrubbed the area thoroughly to clean the affected areas, before removing the resulting slurry using a wet vacuum and rinsed with clean water. Once I was satisfied that all of the glue had been removed, I proceeded to soak the floor using a solution of the high alkaline cleaner known as Tile Doctor Pro Clean. This is a versatile product that can be used on a wide range of natural stone floors to deal with heavy soil build-up. I left the Pro-Clean to dwell for ten minutes, and then scrubbed it into the tiles to remove the ingrained dirt and also to break down any old and ineffectual seals. The floor was then once again rinsed thoroughly with clean water which was then extracted using a wet vacuum before being left to dry for a couple of days. Upon our return to the property I immediately tested the floor for damp using a damp meter. This is an extremely important test to carry out before sealing any kind of tiled flooring, due to the fact that excess moisture left over from cleaning can cloud the sealer and damage its ability to protect against dirt and stains. Thankfully, the damp test revealed no excess moisture, and I was able to proceed with sealing the tiles. My choice of sealer was Tile Doctor Seal and Go, a water-based topical sealer that simultaneously provides both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable and aesthetically pleasing low sheen finish, also being water based it doesn’t give off a smell as it dries. This is a very cost effective product that is highly suitable for use on Victorian and Quarry tiles, I applied five costs to achieve the desired finish. The customer was very pleased with the final results. It’s always satisfying to restore original Victorian tiled floors to looking their best once again – and this one was no exception. Stuart Ford Wiltshire Tile Doctor

The Ossido line stems from a wager against time, in an attempt to crystallise a material at a specific point in its life and have it stay that way forever. Specifically, it entails the reproduction of a oxidation process on slabs of copper and metal, which generates a very strong and rich colour, yet which inevitably disappears as the oxidation process progresses.

VISION AND NEEDS: Our client came to us with a vision for their dream house for their growing family with three young children. This was their second attempt at getting the right design. The first time around, after working with an out-of-state online architect, they could not achieve the level of quality they wanted. McHugh delivered a home with higher quality design. MCHUGH SOLUTION: The Shingle/Dutch Colonial Design was our client's dream home style. Their priorities were to have a home office for both parents. Ample living space for kids and friends, along with outdoor space and a pool. Double sink bathroom for the kids and a master bedroom with bath for the parents. Despite being close a flood zone, clients could have a fully finished basement with 9ft ceilings and a full attic. Because of the higher water table, the first floor was considerably above grade. To soften the ascent of the front walkway, we designed planters around the stairs, leading up to the porch.

VISION AND NEEDS: Our client came to us with a vision for their dream house for their growing family with three young children. This was their second attempt at getting the right design. The first time around, after working with an out-of-state online architect, they could not achieve the level of quality they wanted. McHugh delivered a home with higher quality design. MCHUGH SOLUTION: The Shingle/Dutch Colonial Design was our client's dream home style. Their priorities were to have a home office for both parents. Ample living space for kids and friends, along with outdoor space and a pool. Double sink bathroom for the kids and a master bedroom with bath for the parents. Despite being close a flood zone, clients could have a fully finished basement with 9ft ceilings and a full attic. Because of the higher water table, the first floor was considerably above grade. To soften the ascent of the front walkway, we designed planters around the stairs, leading up to the porch.

The Brooke Residence ‘Addi- tion by Subtraction’ remodeling project was recognized with numerous regional and national awards and was selected for Fine Homebuilding’s Annual Issue on Houses. This 1920’s Craftsman Bungalow had been poorly modified in the 70’s in an attempt to address poor energy performance with a scabbed on solarium. The design solution removed the solarium and completely reimagined the floor plan: The kitchen was relocated to the rear; the stairway was relocated to enhance function, and a better connection to the family room was created.

At the end of 2012, Danberry came across what was then a rundown home in the Casco Point neighborhood of Orono, in desperate need of some design help. A failed attempt by the previous owner to remodel it as an investment had left it abandoned for years. But when the Danberry’s got a glimpse of this diamond in the rough, they knew it had potential. The project included a completely remodeled kitchen, bathroom, basement and living room.

Our attempt at a North Shore Boston Victorian-era Dining Room. Although we do not entertain a lot, the room is very visible and was worth a complete overhaul from 1990s-era decor. We were propelled by a burst cast-iron pipe in the winter of 2021! The project is almost done now, just waiting for a 19th century sofa to be added (after its much-needed re-upholstery). Will update in early April with better photos.

The Ossido line stems from a wager against time, in an attempt to crystallise a material at a specific point in its life and have it stay that way forever. Specifically, it entails the reproduction of a oxidation process on slabs of copper and metal, which generates a very strong and rich colour, yet which inevitably disappears as the oxidation process progresses.

The dresser painted with milk paint after a photo of an Annie Sloan painted dresser. Her design, my attempt to copy it. What a mess. Probably won't use that paint again because it doesn't hold up well. I re-drilled the top drawers for new pulls. This picture was Photoshop-ped to add the pulls before I decided on which ones to buy. I did end up getting these and am very happy with them.

After buying our house, the first major project was to fix whatever it was the previous owners attempted in the back yard. First step, budget wise, was to rip up all the bricks surrounding our deck.

If you have a tiled shower area in your home, it’s very likely you’ve experienced problems with the grout becoming excessively dirty and ridden with displeasing black spots of mould. The underlying issue is due to inadequate ventilation which can be a real problem in modern insulated houses and occasionally the grout can get so imbued with contamination that the problem needs to be resolved professionally. In the case of this Ceramic tiled shower area, located at a property in Galgate, Lancashire, mould had turned the grout black and had got into the sealant strip around the base. The property owner had tried using the run-of-the-mill cleaning products you can buy in superstores, but they simply couldn’t get the job done. So, she contacted me to see what could be done. At Tile Doctor, we come across the problem of mouldy shower tiles very often. Excess soaps and shampoos – many of which contain chemicals that harmful to the grout – can quickly build-up if not removed, causing mould and soap scum to emerge quickly, and before you know it, you have a problem like this one. Thankfully, with the right strength product and cleaning methods, mould can be removed quite easily. The cleaning product used here was Tile Doctor Mould Away, which does what it says on the bottle and can quickly remove mould and black spots from grout and silicone. I applied Mould Away to the grout and surrounding Ceramic tiles and left it to dwell for a short period, before starting to clean the affected areas carefully using soft nail brushes and a small amount of water. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat this process several times to achieve the best possible results, but in this case two attempts was all it took to get the grout looking like new once again. Following the cleaning, the area was rinsed thoroughly with water, before bring dried off quickly with a heat gun on a low setting. I then sealed the grout with a single coat of Tile Doctor Wall Grout Sealer, which is a water-based sealer designed to protect against water, oil and acid-based contaminants, and stop them from spoiling the appearance of the grout. It also provides a transparent finish that does not diminish the original colouring of the grout. To add the finishing touches, I polished off the Ceramic tiles as these were already fully glazed and did not require any extra sealer. The before and after photos are a testament to how significantly the condition and appearance of the grout was quickly improved and needless to say, the customer was very satisfied with the result. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

After two attempts with two contractors this is what they wanted. I photographed this very comfortable bathroom. John Gerson
Large minimalist master multicolored tile and ceramic tile travertine floor bathroom photo in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, white walls, a drop-in sink and quartzite countertops

What started as a humorous riff on a podiatrist client’s plastic anatomical foot model becomes a contemporary contemplation on the theme of vanity, which has occupied artists from the Netherlandish painters of the 16th and 17th centuries right through to Marilyn Minter, whose work revels in the seamy, dirty underbelly of the fashion world. The flayed rawness of bones exposes the transience and vulnerability of human existence, which is emphasized by the fact that it is also a cheap plastic simulacrum of the real thing. Slipping this ugliness into a glamorous stiletto with rhinestone-encrusted silver straps spotlights how futile—and in this case painfully deforming—are our attempts to dress up the inescapable truth. This glitz-over-guts sculpture is as barbed as it is humorous. Concept: John Beckmann Image: Jessica Marvin Photography: Jeffrey Hornstein © 2012 Axis Mundi Design LLC

This is painted as part of Tree series. I chose Aspen for their lovely white trunks and flower-like leaves. The artwork has been accepted to be displayed in the juried show. Painted on premier quality canvas stretched on a 1.5 thick frame, using artist grade oil paints, the work is a humble attempt to bring focus on the beauty of nature. Painting is sealed with acrylic varnish and sides are painted black. It is unframed and hangs with d-link and wire assembly. It can be framed as needed. The painting is shipped with certificate of authenticity and care instructions. About Artist About the Artist Bhavna is a San Francisco based independent artist who tries to make a difference through her passion for arts and portraiture. More info at https://bhavnamisra.com/ Email: bhavna.misra@gmail.com

Mid-sized transitional gray two-story stucco house exterior idea in Other with a hip roof and a shingle roof

Hardie Plank siding conceals the stair and landing framing from view.
Large trendy backyard metal railing deck photo in Philadelphia